US3351212A

US3351212A - Pallet rack construction

Info

Publication number: US3351212A
Application number: US519278A
Authority: US
Inventors: Mcconnell Kennedy
Original assignee: Interlake Steel Corp
Current assignee: Interlake Steel Corp
Priority date: 1966-01-07
Filing date: 1966-01-07
Publication date: 1967-11-07
Anticipated expiration: 1984-11-07

Description

K. MCCONNELL Nov. 7, 1967 PALLET RACK CONSTRUCTION 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Jan. '7, 1966 99090099999 99%ZW9V999D99 O00 o o 000 09009090 MUM, ""hl.

u i c 0 l l u l l l z l Nov. 7, 1967 K. MCCONNELL 3,351,212

PALLET RACK CONSTRUCTION Filed Jan. 7, 1966 PRIOR ART yUnited States Patent ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE A pallet rack type support structure having beams and uprights connected together by means of flanged lugs engaging keyhole openings, The lugs have a plurality of peripheral liat surfaces extending at dilerent angles to provide for flat contact between the lugs and the sides of the keyhole openings in different oriented positions of the lugs.

This invention relates to the art of pallet racks of a type embodying vertical upright members detachably secured to horizontal load supporting members and particularly applies to an improved connector between the vertical and horizontal members.

In United States Patent 3,070,237, issued Dec. 25, 1962, is shown a typical pallet rack structure of a type in which the features of this invention can be particularly embodied. In that type of pallet rack, the vertical upright members are provided with sloped keyhole slots into which studs or lugs are connected for the purpose of providing connections between the vertical and horizontal members. The studs or lugs are of circular cross-section in the regions of their Contact with the keyhole slots and this substantially provides line contact between the studs or lugs and the portions of the keyhole slots they engage. This line contact provides heavy stress concentration when the pallet rack is under load and, in time, the region of contact becomes indented and this decreases the rigidity of the connections.

It is the principal object of this invention to provide improved connections between the vertical and horizontal members by means of an improved design for the studs or lugs used in the connections.

In order to achieve this object, it is another object of this invention to provide an improved lug or stud which has at least one fiat surface on it used to engage a portion of a keyhole in au upright in order to provide a large area of bearing contact.

It is still another object of the invention to provide such a lug or stud which is reversible when assembled t-o its horizontal member so that proper orientation of any flat surfaces on it is automatic.

It is another object of the invention to provide such `a stud or lug which is readily adapted to right or left hand orientation because it is provided with a plurality of flat bearing surfaces, any one of which can be the particular bearing surface for a horizontal member, depending upon how the lug or stud happens to be assembled to the horizontal member.

Other objects and advantages of the invention should become apparent upon reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a partially cut-away pallet rack embodying -the features of this invention;

FIG. 2 shows a partially cut-away and sectional elevation view of a horizontal beam connected to a vertical upright;

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a stud or lug embodying the features of the invention;

FIG. 4 shows a horizontal sectional view of a vertical member connected to a horizontal member as viewed approximately along the lines 4-4 of FIG. 1;

r6 ICC of FIG. and

FIG. 8 shows an enlarged sectional View similar to FIG. 6, except that it shows the prior art connection.

As viewed in FIG. 1, a typical support structure or pallet rack 1 consists of a pair of ladder-shaped

upright frames

2 and 3 spaced apart from each other and joined together by means of

horizontal beams

4, 5, 6 and 7. These beams are joined at their ends to the

upright frames

2 and 3 in a manner hereinafter described. The upright frame 2 is also joined to the ends of other

horizontal beams

8, 9, 10 and 11 which, although not shown, extend to an additional spaced upright frame similar to

frames

2 and 3. In this manner the entire pallet rack 1 can be made any length required. lust as the

beams

8, 9, 10 and 11 extend from the frame 2, other beams can extend in the opposite direction from the frame 3 so that the pallet rack can be extended in length in either direction.

Each of the

upright frames

2 and 3 consists of a front upright 12 and a rear upright 13 joined together by horizontal front to

back members

14 and 15 and

diagonal braces

16 and 17. Naturally the lengths of the

members

14, 15, 16 and 17 can be appropriately cut to space the

uprights

12 and 13 as far apart as necessary to provide the proper span between the

front beams

4 and 5 and the rear beams 6 and 7. Also, the

uprights

12 and 13 can be made as tall as necessary in order to accommodate the required vertical spacing of the horizontal beams, as well as to permit positioning of as many vertically spaced beams as desired. Also, additional members similar to 14, 1S, 16 and 17 can be added to provide sufficient rigidity and strength.

With the structure as shown in FIG. 1, the beams 5 and 6 provide a span across which pallets or other articles can span so that the beams act as their support at an upper level. Similarly the

beams

4 and 7 provide a spanned support for pallets or other objects at a lower level. A pallet 18 is shown supported by the beams 4 and `7 and also a board 19. If continuous shelving is required so that objects will not fall through the spanned opening between the beams, a plurality of boards 19 can be positioned side by side along the beams to provide a continuous luninterrupted support for various shapes and sizes of objects.

The front to

back members

14 and 15 and

diagonal braces

16 and 17 are preferably welded at their ends to the

uprights

12 and 13 in order to provide the completed ladder-shaped

upright frames

2 and 3. This enables the

frames

2 and 3 to be shipped as integral units, thus saving erection time and also insuring a rigid structure which might not be obtained if nuts and bolts or other fastening means are used to secure these members together.

Each of the

uprights

12 and 13 is provided with two rows of lirst openings 20 extending along the entire length of the front walls 21 of the uprights. The openings 20 are equally spaced from each other by a lixed increment. Each of the

uprights

12 and 13 is also provided with a row of equally spaced openings 22 along

opposite side walls

23 and 24 of the uprights. These

side walls

23 and 24 are positioned parallel to eachother and are connected therebetween by the front wall 21 which forms the upright into a channel shape. The side walls 23 and 24 -are provided with

flanges

25 and 26 which extend toward each other in a plane parallel to the front wall 21 of the upright, The

anges

25 and 26, the

side walls

23 and 24 and the front wall 21 together provide a llanged channel-shaped upright with four

corners

27, 28, 29 and 30 which impart column strength and rigidity to the uprights.

Even though different number designations have been given to the horizontal beams, they are all identical in structure and can be used interchangeably as front or back beams by merely rotating them 180 end to end in a horizontal plane.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4 a horizontal beam 6 consists of an L-shaped tube 31. This tube 31 is welded at each of its ends to one wall 34 of an L-shaped end ange 35. The other wall 36 of the end ange 35 is provided with two inwardly extending flanged lugs 37 which are in fixed positions on the end ange 35.

Each lug 37 is provided with the improved features of this invention. As shown in FIG. 3, the lug 37 has a hexagonal central portion 37a connected between an enlarged diameter flange or hanged portion 40 and small diameter portion 37C which is provided with two flats 37d and two radius portions 37e. The hexagonal portion 37a has six fiat portions 37j which are substantially of the same size. As indicated especially in FIGS. 5 and 7, the lug or stud 37 is attached to an L-shaped end flange 35 by passing the portion 37C through an opening 35a in the flange 35 which opening is of the same size as the cross-sectional shape of the portion 37C. After it is inserted, the free end 37g is peened over and provided with a ange 37h which retains the stud 37 in the hole 35a. The shape of the hole 35a corresponding to the cross-section of the lug portion 37C keeps the lug from rotating and insures proper orientation of the lug when it is assembled to the flange 35.

In order to assemble a horizontal beam to an upright 12 or 13, the beam is extended horizontally and its L- shaped end iiange 35 is brought to bear against the front wall 21 and a

side wall

23 or 24 of an upright. In order to do this the lugs 37 on the flange are aligned to pass through the openings 20 in the upright. These openings 20 are key-shaped, having an enlarged circular portion 20a intersecting a narrow elongated portion 20h which is slightly canted toward the center of the upright. Having two rows of these holes 20, the effect is that these elongated portions 20b are canted or sloped toward each other. Also, ahole 20 in one row is positioned immediately opposite a hole 20 in the adjacent row. Since there is equal spacing between all of the holes, each is positioncd with another immediately adjacent to it laterally.V

The enlarged circular portion 20a is of a diameter larger than the diameter of the anges 40 of the lug 37 so that the lug 37 can freely fit through it. The portion 37a of the lug is slightly smaller than the width of the elongated portion 20b so that the lug can be dropped down into the elongated portion 2011 after it has been passed through the circular portion 20a. Because of the particular dimensions of the end ange 35 and the positions of the lugs 37 thereon, as the lugs of the ange slide down the incline of the elongated portions 2Gb of the holes 20, the wall 34 of the end flange is brought to bear tightly against a

side wall

23 or 24 of the upright 12 or 13. These lugs 37, therefore, provide bearing support for the horizontal beam 6 along the plane of the lfront wall 21 of the upright 13.

By drawing the wall 34 of the end flange 35 snugly against the side wall 23, this provides a fairly rigid connection between the horizontal beam 6 and the upright 13.

In order to further enhance the rigidity of the structure, the horizontal beams 4, S, 6 and 7 are all provided with sliding bolts 41. The operation of these sliding bolts 41 is described with particularity in U.S. Patent 3,070,237 referred to above.

In prior construction, as shown in FIG. 8, a lug 37 engages a keyhole opening 20' similar in shape to the keyhole opening 20. The lug 37' is provided with a circular portion 37a which corresponds to the hexagonal portion 37a of the lug 37. It is quite apparent that this circular portion 37a engages the Wall of the elongated hole portion 2Gb along line contact at region 10-1. With this type of connection, as lug 37' is urged downwardly with the result that the connection between flange 35 and upright 13 is tightened, the contact at portion 101 becomes deformed because of the heavy stress concentration. This has the effect of destroying the dimensional relationship creating the tightening action as the lug 37 cams along the surface of the hole portion 2Gb` and, in time, looseness at the connections develops which diminishes joint rigidity.

With the improved stud or lug 37, particularly indicated in FIG. 6, one of the at surfaces 37f on the lug portion 37a provides wide bearing area of contact along the hole portion Zb. With this dat area of contact, there is little tendency to deform the contacting surfaces because the load stress is spread over the entire area of contact. The result is a minimum change in joint dimensions with a resultant continuance of joint rigidity.

This stud or lug 37 has the further advantage that it can be used for right hand or left hand connections. For example, it is apparent that the connection shown in FIG. 6 is one which is used for a connection of a flange 35 at the left end of a beam, as indicated in FIG. 4 where the keyhole has a cant or slope in one direction. The holes in the upright for connections to the right end of a beam are of the opposite slope and, when the right end` of a beam is connected to the upright, the flat surface 371l may be used to provide `the bearing surface of contact. It should also be apparent that the stud or lug can be inverted in the opening 35a during its initial assembly to a flange 35 with the result that either of the other two at

surfaces

37 and 37f" can be used depending upon whether or not it is a left hand or right hand connection. Actually the upper and lower dat surfaces 37f are not used. They can remain at or be curved, whichever is easier to manufacture. In any case, it should be apparent that the particular shape of the hole 35a allows the stud i or lug 37 to be positioned in one position or in an inverted position and there will always be a flat surface 37jc which will properly align with the inner wall of the hole portion 2Gb in order to provide a large bearing area for a rigid connection.

Although only a single embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, it should be evidentthat the invention can be made in many different ways without departing from the true scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims in which I claim:

1. A support structure comprising vertical uprights and horizontal beams, each of said beams being positioned between two of said vertical uprights spaced from each` other by approximately the length of a beam, the two` vertical uprights being provided with front walls facing in a direction away from the axis of the beam and side walls facing each other in a direction lof the beam between the uprights, a hanged lug on the end of said beam, the uprights being provided with keyhole openings `along said front walls for engaging the lug to provide support of the beam along said front walls, said lug having a first at surface on its outer periphery and each of said openings being partially bounded by a second at surface on its inner peripheral wall, said flat surfaces engaging each other when the lug is positioned through one of the openings, said rst at surface on the lug being one of a plurality of flat surfaces on the outer periphery of the lug extending at different angles, and said second hat surfaces extending at corresponding different angles on the inner peripheral wall of the keyhole openings to permit at abutment of a first at surface of the lug with a corresponding second at surface of the opening when the lug engages the opening.

2. In a support structure of a type having vertical uprights and horizontal beams, the vertical uprights being provided with walls having keyhole openings therein, and the beams having flanged lugs thereon for engaging the right, and each anged lug having a Hat surface on its outer periphery extending at the same angle when a lug and keyhole opening are in connecting positions relative to each other, the at surface of a lug atly abutting the at edge of a keyhole opening when the keyhole opening and the lug are engaged to form a connection between a beam and an upright, the flat surface on the outer periphery of the lug being one of a plurality of such flat surfaces on the outer periphery of the lug, each at surface extending at a different angle so that the lug can be oriented to flatly abut dierent keyhole openings having inner peripheral flat edges extending at a corresponding different angle.

3. In a support structure as dened by claim 2 characterized by, said keyhole openings being arranged in two parallel vertical rows along each upright with the keyhole openings of one row canted at a rst angle and the keyhole openings of the other row canted at a second angle so that the respective planes of Contact between abutting at edges and flat surfaces of the keyhole openings and lugs along the one row of keyhole openings extend at the rst angle and the planes of Contact between abutting flat edges and at surfaces of the keyhole openings of the other row extend at the second angle.

References Cited ROY D. FRAZIER, Primary Examiner.

W. D. LOULAN, Assistant Examiner.

Claims

2. IN A SUPPORT STRUCTURE OF A TYPE HAVING VERTICAL UPRIGHTS AND HORIZONTAL BEAMS, THE VERTICAL UPRIGHTS BEING PROVIDED WITH WALLS HAVING KEYHOLE OPENINGS THEREIN, AND THE BEAMS HAVING FLANGED LUGS THEREON FOR ENGAGING THE KEYHOLE OPENINGS TO PROVIDE CONNECTIONS BETWEEN THE BAEMS AND THE UPRIGHTS COMPRISING, EACH KEYHOLE OPENING BEING PARTIALLY BOUNDED ALONG ITS INNER PERIPHERAL WALL BY A FLAT EDGE EXTENDING AT AN ANGLE TO ITS RESPECTIVE UPRIGHT, AND EACH FLANGED LUG HAVING A FLAT SURFACE ON ITS OUTER PERIPHERY EXTENDING AT THE SAME ANGLE WHEN A LUG AND KEYHOLE OPENING ARE IN CONNECTING POSITIONS RELATIVE TO EACH OTHER, THE FLAT SURFACE OF A LUG FLATLY ABUTTING THE FLAT EDGE OF A KEYHOLE OPENING WHEN THE KEYHOLE OPENING AND THE LUG ARE ENGAGED TO FORM A CONNECTION BETWEEN A BEAM AND AN UPRIGHT, THE FLAT SURFACE ON THE OUTER PERIPHERY OF THE LUG BEING ONE OF A PLURALITY OF SUCH FLAT SURFACE ON THE OUTER PERIPHERY OF THE LUG, EACH FLAT SURFACE EXTENDING AT A DIFFERENT KEYHOLE OPENINGS HAVING INNER PERIPHFLATLY ABUT DIFFERENT KEYHOLE OPENINGS HAVING INNER PERIPHERAL FLAT EDGES EXTENDING AT A CORRESPONDING DIFFERENT ANGLE.